Around the final day of judging for the BMS29 (Photo credit: Balai Seni Negara ) “Aku bawak idea dan concept, tetapi pulau tu yg tentukan final form.” Khairul Ehsani Sapari started his Bakat Muda Sezaman 29th Edition (BMS29) journey in Langkawi a few months ago. He came with an idea and a concept. Yet somewhere along the process, the island itself decided what the final form would become. He arrived with a proposal. He left Langkawi with something else. I have known Khairul or Kerol, as I call him since 2014. A 12-year friendship at this point. Over the years, one thing I’ve realised about him is that he is extremely determined. Once he locks onto something, he commits to it fully. Sometimes almost obsessively. He mentioned participating in this year’s Bakat Muda Sezaman quite early on. In fact, he even asked me to join as well, but unfortunately I could not commit to it at the time. That did not stop him. Especially after one of our close friends, fellow Bukan Seni-Man , Nazrul Hamzah...
Photo by Sime Darby Property When I first learned about the Elmina Outdoor Sculpture Museum (EOSM), I was immediately intrigued. The idea of an “outdoor sculpture museum” isn’t new globally. Places like Gibbs Farm, Hakone Open-Air Museum, and Storm King Art Center have long established what such spaces can be. These parks range dramatically in scale, from as small as 17 acres to over 1,000. EOSM, at around 300 acres, sits somewhere in between. Modest in comparison, but undeniably ambitious within the Malaysian context. More importantly, it feels like a meaningful step toward connecting the general public with the art world. There has always been a lingering perception that art is exclusive, that you need to be “in the know” to belong. If you don’t understand the lingo, the references, or even the social codes, you risk feeling alienated or out of place. Whether or not this exclusivity is entirely real is beside the point. The perception exists, and in many ways,...